Moistener.



W. F. FRANCIS.

MOISTENER.

APPLICATION FILED APII. 4| ISIS.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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WILLIE FRANCIS, OF DOTT, WEST VIRGINIA.

MoIsTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed April 4, 1916. Serial No. 88,904.

To all ywhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIE F. FRANCIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dott, in the county of of Mercer and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Moisteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a moistener especially designed for application to the human hand and for the use of bank tellers and others in moistening the thumb or thumb and fore finger for greater convenience in separating and handling bank bills, etc., during the operation of counting or assembling the same in stacks.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple of construction, light in weight, adapted to be applied and worn without inconvenience, which will supply moisture for a comparatively long period, and which may be applied and removed with facility.

The invention consists of the .features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:-

Figure l is a view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 ,is a perspective view of the device detached. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the device.

The device comprises a substantially U- shaped body l, forming with a securing member 2 a band to embrace and extend transversely across the body of the hand. The part l is preferably made of a strip of fiat rubber, while part 2 may be made of a rubber or other elastic cord or strip which will yield suiciently to adapt the device to fit any hand of ordinary size and to be placed under tension to hold the device rmly in position.

The free end of the upper portion of the member l carries a Water reservoir or cup 3 provided with a suitable closure Il, while the free end of the'lower arm of said meinber l carries a moistening device 5 comprising a cupshape body 6, of rubber or other4 suitable material, containing a filling 7 of felt or other suitable absorbent material. A conducting tube 8 extends around the body l and connects the water reservoir with the cup 6, for the supply of water to the absorbent material.

In the use of the device, it is fitted upon the hand as shown in Fig. l, and the water flows by gravity from the reservoir 3 through the tube 8 to the absorbent material 7 in the cup 6 which cup` is positioned in the middle of the palm of the hand, and as fast as the moisture dries out from the felt or is used a fresh supply of water is furnished, thus enabling the device to be employed without the necessity of frequently filling the water reservoir. The device as thus applied allows free motion of the hand as a whole, as well as of the thumb and fingers, as will be readily understood. The operator using the device bends the thumb or any. of the fingers which is to be moistened to bring the same in contact with the absorbent material in the cup, whereby the thumb and any or all of the lingers maybe conveniently moistened to secure increased efficiency in handling bank bills and other sheets, as will be readily understood. It will be seen that the device is simple of construction, reliable and efficient in action, may be furnished at a low cost, and is adapted to be applied and removed with convenience and facility.

I claim l. A device of the character described comprising a U-shaped body of elastic material, an elastic member forming with said body a resilient elliptical band to eXtend across and embrace the hand of the operator, a water reservoir carried by the upper limb of the body portion, a moistener carried by the lower limb of the body portion, said mois- 2. A device ofthe character described comtube leading along the band from the resprising any elliptical elastic band adapted ervoir to the cup. l0 to extenl trznsverselylacross the body of In testimony whereof I a'fHX my signature. the han an resilient y grip the same a 5 Water reservoir upon the top portion of said WILLIE F' FRANCIS band, a moistener upon the bottom of the lVitnesses: band comprising a cup having a body of G. B. FLETCHER, absorbent material therein, and a conducting U. S. HAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

